Christmas 2013

December 2013

Dear loved ones,

     Never in our lives did we think we would live in Pennsylvania (James 4:13-14).  We have lived in some of the most beautiful states in America—Colorado, Arizona, and Florida.  In 2013 we learned that Pennsylvania lacks the publicity but not the beauty.  The rolling green hills, amazing sunrises, beautiful forests, and changing seasons have been a delight to us.  In addition, we have a church home filled with people who want to have an impact on their community.  We are truly thankful for God’s plan.

     Another surprise is that our children are with us in Pennsylvania.  When we agreed to go to Scotland in 2008, Patrick moved to Tennessee and we assumed that we would be separated from our sons for the next two decades.  Instead, this summer Patrick and Britney moved to York and in October Michael came home too.  We now share a home with these three people whom we adore.  We worship together weekly and thank God for His plan.

     Oh, and did we mention our home.  We live on Narnia.  Yes, we are the Woods of Narnia.  When we visited Providence in September 2012, we noticed a development across the street from the church called, Aslan Heights.  The entry road is Narnia.  We joked about how fun it would be to live on Narnia…and now we do.  And the house is a quarter mile from the church.  God’s plan is wonderful.

I guess 2013 has been about learning to trust God’s plan.  We do not understand but it is good.  2000 years ago, He asked Jesus to be born a baby, live as a man, love people unconditionally, and be killed by these same people.  It doesn’t sound like such a great plan…but God brought Jesus back to life, forgave the sins of millions of people and all so that they might be reconciled to God.  That is a great plan!

Merry Christmas from the Wood family.

Dark Flows The River

When Robin's mom passed away, a single sentence ran through her mind.  After we lost a baby to a miscarriage, the sentence returned to her mind, "Dark flows the river."  This grief led us to write the following poem.  Today I learned that a new friend of mine just lost a loved one and my mind returned to "Dark flows the river."

DARK FLOWS THE RIVER
By Robin and Vince Wood

Dark flows the river as it covers my soul.
The weight on my heart joins with my every breath
Telling me that in this land I cannot rest,
For the remnants of sin always take their toll.

Your providence brings pain to destroy my pride.
Take away the idols in my heart of stone.
Capture every wicked thought I have ever known,
And bring me joy in pain with nowhere to hide.

Chorus:
I am crushed by the power of Your great love.
And I know that it's Your love that brings me pain.
Crush me, Lord, and let nothing of me remain -
Only Jesus, His grace, His mercy, His love!

Blessed are the mourners: You will comfort them.
Jesus, these words seem hard for me to understand
'Till I see, You do things as no one else can.
You let Your saints feel pain…then You comfort them.

What is the form of the comfort You promise?
In every step I take, I am never alone!
In the stormy times of life when I need love,
You are with me, for that is Your promise!